It’s getting dark earlier and earlier and snow has been falling in parts of the UK this week. It’s no surprise then that many of us are dreaming of making our escape to sunnier climes. In fact, with escalating fuel bills, many pensioners feel that they might do well to lock the front door and take a nice long holiday in the sun where the cost of living is cheap and there is no need for central heating.

Insurers, however, are warning that by leaving their home unoccupied for 30 days or more many of these escapees may inadvertently be invalidating their home insurance policy. Darren Black of confused.com suggests ensuring that a friend or relative spends some time staying in the house while the occupants are away so as to make sure that it is not left unoccupied for 30 consecutive days.

He also points out that there are many ways of making sure that your home does not become an easy target for burglars while you are relaxing in the sun. Buying a timer switch or two means that you can set lights and perhaps a radio to come on in your absence. Getting a trusted friend to move your car off the drive every now and then makes the house look as though it is occupied, as does getting someone to open and shut your curtains. Make sure too that you remember to cancel all newspapers and milk and invest in good locks for all windows and doors.

With Christmas decorations springing up on high streets across the country, it is difficult to escape the fact that the festive season is just around the corner. Whilst your priorities may currently revolve around finding presents which do not break the bank, finding an appropriate outfit for the office party, and searching for a cheap turkey, you should not neglect your home and general security at this time of year.

Norwich and Peterborough Building Society has reminded homeowners of the dangers that the festive season can bring. Now is the time to check that your home insurance covers everything which may be put at risk by Christmas festivities. The building society has pointed out the obvious risks, including the increased risk of burglary. Many opportunistic thieves face increasing temptation from the numerous presents on display through every living room window and, with Christmas parties cropping up practically every night, an empty house rapidly becomes a vulnerable house.

However, there are less obvious risks to consider. Make sure that your policy covers the contents of your freezer. This may sound a minor consideration but if your freezer breaks down during the run-up to the big day, all your expensive Christmas food will go to waste. Furthermore, check the accidental damage on your home insurance policy. Accidents happen during the festive season and, if you cannot make a claim, your Christmas may be ruined.

In order to encourage people to make appropriate changes to their policies, the building society is offering the chance to win an HD Ready digital television. Simply log on to their website and ask for a quote for home buildings and contents insurance to be entered into the prize draw.

The specialist insurance broker, Stackhouse Poland, has started a campaign which aims to educate homeowners about preventing accidents around the house which may result in devastating financial losses. Stackhouse Poland believes that prevention is always better than cure and whilst the last few years have seen unavoidable claims made as a result of natural disasters, most claims can be prevented by using a little common sense.

Keith Hester, who works for the insurance broker, has conceded that there have been “devastating floods and freak tornadoes” recently but most accidents which result in claims are caused by “little everyday things” which are, in reality, easily avoidable. Using common sense around the house can not only protect against accidents but can also ease the burden on your wallet.

Hester revealed one common cause of house fires, which may come as a surprise to many homeowners. Leaving a mobile phone charging overnight can cause curtains to catch fire and this can not only cause widespread structural damage but can also cause severe injuries and death.

Unfortunately, other risks are even less obvious. For example, if your mirror is badly positioned, it may catch fire. Mirrors, specifically convex shaving models, can reflect sunlight onto curtains and alarmingly can cause a large and destructive house fire.

Stackhouse Poland has urged homeowners to take a slow walk around their houses to check for obvious, and less obvious, risks which may result in accidents. This is particularly important at the moment, since Christmas is one of the high risk times of the year.

At the moment, it seems as if the global financial crisis is directly impacting upon all areas of our lives. AA Insurance, a major name in the insurance industry, has carried out a new survey which has revealed that many people in the United Kingdom would think about taking in a lodger if the credit crunch continues to worsen over the coming months.

Although almost three-quarters of Brits have never been in the situation of having to become a lodger, a fifth of those surveyed have admitted that they are currently considering it in the hope that it would save money.

Interestingly, many people in the towns of Cambridge and Oxford were particularly keen to consider becoming landlords. Forty-six per cent of people in the popular university towns said that they would think about this to help ease the burden of rising bills.

However, if you are one of these individuals currently thinking about taking in a lodger, you should take notice of the words of wisdom from AA Insurance. The survey conducted by the insurance company not only looked at would-be landlords but also investigated current landlords who have just taken in a new tenant. Worryingly it found that approximately three million of these new landlords may have rendered their home insurance policies invalid by failing to notify their insurance provider of their new domestic situation.

A spokesman for AA Insurance, Simon Douglas, has urged all “landlords or landladies to check their insurance policy” prior to the arrival of any lodger. Douglas revealed that he is “concerned” about the number of people who seem to be ignorant of the need to do this.